Singing toy device and method

ABSTRACT

A singing toy device including a body that may be shaped in the likeness of an animal. A pouch including an openable bottom is attached to the body for storing items and a fastener removably couples the openable bottom to the body of the device. Electronic circuitry in an audio box controls audio record, store and play functions. A method of entertaining a child with the singing toy device is also disclosed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention disclosed herein relates to an improved singing toy device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART AND OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION

U.S. Pat. No. 6,312,307 to the applicant, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, discloses a singing toy device including a body containing a microphone and a pair of speakers. Improvements to the device disclosed in the prior patent are the subject of this disclosure. Applicant's U.S. Pat. No. Des. 359,409 shows a singing toy device and is also incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

An objective of the present invention however is to provide a singing toy device having an openable bottom for releasing items stored in a pouch on the front of the device.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a singing toy device with an openable bottom of a pouch and electronic circuitry for controlling audio store, record and play functions.

Various other objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as a more detailed description is set forth below.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aforesaid and other objectives are realized by providing a singing toy device including a body shaped in the likeness of an animal or otherwise. A pouch including an openable bottom is attached to the body for storing items and a fastener removably couples the bottom to the body of the device. A border movable from the body for inserting items such as toys forms the top of the pouch and suction cups on opposing ends of the border are included for connecting the border to a surface behind the device.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the fastener removably coupling the bottom of the pouch to the body includes a microhook ply on the body for receiving a microloop ply on the openable bottom of the pouch. In an alternative embodiment, the fastener includes snaps with protruding members on the body for insertion into receiving members on the bottom.

The singing toy device may also include electrical circuitry disposed in the body for storing a recording such as a song that can be played through a speaker connected to the circuitry. A microphone is also provided for receiving audio input to be stored in the electrical circuitry and for broadcast through a speaker of the electrical circuitry.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a singing toy device;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the device showing the bottom of the pouch folded upwardly in an open posture;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of a member for reinforcing the bottom of a pouch on the device;

FIG. 4 is a front schematic view of the pouch showing the reinforcing member of FIG. 3 in cutaway view;

FIG. 5 is a back view of the device with the audio box exploded from the rear pocket;

FIG. 6 is a front view of an alternative embodiment of an openable bottom of the pouch;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram representing a micro controller portion of electronic circuitry for the device;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram representing a single high gain amplifier portion of the circuitry;

FIG. 9 represents a power source for the circuitry;

FIG. 10 generally depicts audio storage, input and output portions of the circuitry; and

FIG. 11 depicts a connector portion of the circuitry.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT AND OPERATION OF THE INVENTION

Turning now to the drawings, specifically, FIG. 1 shows the preferred embodiment of singing toy device 10 including body 11 having a kangaroo likeness stitched together from a fabric such as a water-repellant nylon with a foam layer inside. Body 11 includes limbs 8, 8′, lower extremities 12, 12′ and head 19 to form the likeness of an animal such as a kangaroo. Also, fasteners 13 in the form of micro-meshing hook and loop plies are included for joining limbs 8, 8′ around an object such as a shower curtain rod. Pouch 16 includes net 14 or alternatively a standard fabric sewn to border 9 attached to the front of body 11. Border 21 in the form of an elastic band together with net 14 stitched at the sides to body 11 forms the top of pouch 16. Suction cups 23 and 25 are connected to border 21 at opposing ends for attaching border 21 to a vertical surface such as a shower wall or door. Pulling border 21 from body 11 provides an opening for inserting items such as toys in pouch 16, which also includes an openable bottom 20 connected to net 14. Electrical switches 122, 124 are also shown in FIG. 1 and are described in more detail below.

FIG. 2 shows the preferred embodiment of bottom 20 opened upwardly away from body 11. Bottom 20 includes an ear 27 for pulling bottom 20 upwardly to release fastener 29 that releasably couples bottom 20 to body 11. Zippers, drawstrings, buttons, snaps or other fasteners could be used but such is not preferred. Fastener 29 includes one or more microhook plies positioned on body 11 to receive microloop plies attached to bottom 20. FIG. 2 also shows optional pliable clasp 33 in the form of one or more wires housed within an upper region of limb 8′ for hanging device 10 by bending wires 33 around, for example a shower curtain rod. The wires forming clasp 33 may be sewn into limb 8′. Opposite limb 8 can include a similar clasp but the preferred embodiment of device does not include clasp 33 in either of limbs 8, 8′.

FIG. 3 depicts an optional semirigid core 42 for reinforcing bottom 20 of pouch 16. Core 42 can be formed from a thermoplastic sheet or similar material cut into a generally semicircular shape including a downwardly extending tab 27 along the bottom.

FIG. 4 features optional core 42 sewn within a fabric covering to form one version of an openable bottom 20 of pouch 16 (FIG. 1). Border 9 is stitched to net 14 and the fabric within which core 42 is hemmed. The preferred embodiment of device 10 includes core 42 as shown in FIG. 1.

In FIG. 5 a plurality of circular suction cups 37 are seen connected to back 6 of body 11, although suction cups 37 may take other shapes such as the shape of body 11. Suction cups 37 are adapted to assist in retaining device 10 in relation to a surface such as a shower wall or a door as behind device 10. FIG. 5 also shows pocket 65 for retaining audio box 55 for housing audio storage, record and playback electronic circuitry and push button switches 122, 124.

An alternative embodiment of fastener 29 in FIG. 6 takes the form of a plurality of snap buttons 291 positioned to mate with members 292 on openable bottom 20. Fastener 291 can also, or alternatively, include a tie, snap, hook, zipper, string, spring, or a conventional button and loop combination.

FIG. 7 illustrates in schematic diagram form micro controller portion 100 of circuitry 99 for receiving, storing and outputting audio from device 10. Circuitry 99 is generally housed within audio box 55 shown in FIG. 5 although leads for standard switches 122, 124 are routed from audio box 55 to opposite sides of device 10 as shown in FIG. 1. Preferred circuitry 99 is demonstrated in various portions in FIGS. 7-11 herein. Model PIC16F819 micro controller 112 available from Microchip Technology, Inc. at www.microchip.com is used to control the overall operation of circuitry 99. Capacitors 116, 118 bypass the power supply and connector 120 allows in-circuit programming of firmware for micro controller 112. Four-position dual in-line package switch 124 is a pushbutton switch that allows programming signals to be isolated from other signals used in the circuit and operates the firmware along with pushbutton switch 124. A logical active low OR gate is formed by diodes 126, 128 and resistor 130 which connect switches 122, 124 to micro controller 112's active low interrupt pin 160. In addition, switch 122 and pull up resistor 132 are connected to micro controller input port pin 151. Switch 124 and pull up resistor 136 are connected to micro controller input port pin 163. When a user (not seen) pushes one of the buttons (not shown) to close one of the switches 122 or 124, an interrupt is generated which causes the firmware to determine which switch 122 or 124 was closed. Action can then be taken. The remaining input and output ports on the micro controller 112 are connected to circuitry shown in FIGS. 8-10 according to corresponding lettering.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a single high gain amplifier portion 200 of circuitry 99. A standard LM741 operational amplifier 212 is connected as an inverter. 10K input resistor 220 is connected to the inverting input of amplifier 212 and 10M feedback resistor 242 connected between the inverting input and the output of amplifier 212. These two in combination give an inverting gain of 1000. The input of resistor 220 is connected to one side of the microphone input shown in FIG. 10 via connection Q. Resistors 246 and 248 (FIG. 8) are connected in series between V and ground. The common point between them is connected to the non-inverting input of amplifier 212 giving a bias. This common point is also bypassed with a 47 uF capacitor 214. The output of amplifier 212 is then AC coupled through capacitor 228 and filtered to ground with capacitor 236. This signal is then sent to pin 150 of micro controller 112 shown in FIG. 7 via connection A and used as an input to an on-chip analog to digital converter. FIG. 9 represents storage battery 310 that provides the power source for circuitry 99 across connection V.

FIG. 10 generally depicts circuitry 400 for audio storage, input, and output portions of circuitry 99. Winbond ISD2532 voice recorder and playback integrated micro controller 412 can store thirty-two (32) seconds of audio. Capacitors 420, 422, and 424 bypass power supply received through microphone 450. Resistors 432, 434, and 438 with capacitor 436 forms biasing networks to set the DC levels for microphone 450. Capacitors 446, 448 AC couple the microphone signals into Winbond ISD2532 voice recorder and playback integrated micro controller 412. Capacitor 424 and resistor 442 loop the amplified analog signal back to micro controller 412. Resistors 452, 454 are connected to automatic gain control pin 462 of micro controller 412 to form a time constant for an automatic gain control function. Controller 412 is driven by micro controller 112 shown in FIG. 7 via three signals across connections D, I and E. The audio output of controller 412 is AC coupled with capacitor 456 and series resistor 464 into section 490 of a 74HCT4066 quad analog switch integrated circuit.

A second Winbond ISD4003 integrated circuit provides voice recorder and playback circuit 472 used solely for playback. The analog inputs are bypassed to ground with capacitors 466, 468. Capacitors 474, 476, and 478 bypass the power supply. The audio output from playback circuit 472 is passed through AC decoupling capacitor 480. This AC coupled audio is sent through a bias network including resistors 484, 486 to section 492 of the quad analog switch and to connector 500. The other sides of analog switches 490 and 492 are joined together. With two control signals from controller 112, signal across B connected to control pin 491 of section 490 and signal across C connected to the control pin 493 of section 492, the firmware in the micro controller 112 can direct the audio output finally selected. This final audio output is then connected to audio amplifier integrated circuit LM4860 520. Capacitor 526 bypasses the non-inverting input and bypass pins of amplifier 520. Resistor 528 and 100K variable resistor 530 allow the final audio volume of the amplifier output to be set. Capacitor 534 is a power supply bypassing capacitor. The bipolar audio output signal is connected to speaker 540 used for playback of audio output. A signal across connection F is used by micro controller 112 (shown in FIG. 7) to shut down audio amplifier 520 when not in use to reduce quiescent current draw and save battery 310 (shown in FIG. 9) life. Final two sections 494, 496 of the analog switch are used to control the routing of the signal across connection N. The signal can either go to audio recorder and playback circuit 472 or it can be sent off board.

Connector 500 shown in FIG. 11 for circuitry 99 receives a copy of signal N through connection R when sent off board. Three other pins on connector 500 are used to send control signals off board through connections M, L and K. Ground V and audio signal P are also available on connector 500. Integrated circuit 472 is controlled by micro controller 112 via four control signals through K, L and M and a copy of N from section 494.

With reference to FIGS. 1-6, a preferred method of entertaining a child with device 10 includes the step of positioning limbs 8, 8′ in relation to a shower curtain rod whereby fasteners 13 can be joined to secure device 10 to the rod. If utilizing optional clasp 33 (FIG. 2) a user (not shown) would shape pliable clasp 33 into a hook for fitting over a shower curtain rod. Additionally, if device 10 is positioned in front of a surface such as a shower wall or door, suction cups 37 can be pressed to such surface to further secure device 10 in place. Suction cups 23 and 25 can be pressed to the surface for positioning border 21 or net 14 around the front of body 11.

With device 10 secured in place, border 21 can be pulled away from body 11 to provide a top opening for inserting a toy object such as a rubber duck (not seen) in pouch 16 to be retained in place by net 14 and bottom 20 fastened to body 11. The toy object might also of course be stored in the pouch prior to hanging device 10.

Subsequently, tab 27 of bottom 20 can be pulled upwardly to release fastener 29 and open the bottom of pouch 16, which allows removal of the toy as it falls downwardly to the child so positioned in front of device 10.

The preferred method also provides audio record and play functions of device 10 which are activated by switches 122, 124. In the preferred method of the invention, closing one of switches 122 or 124 signals circuitry 99 to play a recording in one language, such as English, while closing the other of the switches 122 or 124 plays a recording in another language, such as Spanish. After the recording is played, a question may be asked of the user by circuitry 99 followed by an audible tone or beep which signals the user to input an answer to the question. The answer is recorded and stored by circuitry 99 and can be played back to the user for entertainment as desired.

The illustrations and examples provided herein are for explanatory purposes and are not provided to limit the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A singing toy device comprising: a body, a pouch, said pouch attached to said body for storing items, said pouch comprising an openable bottom; and a fastener, said fastener removably coupling said openable bottom of said pouch to said body.
 2. The singing toy device according to claim 1 wherein said pouch further comprises a border forming a top of said pouch.
 3. The singing toy device according to claim 2 further comprising suction cups on opposing lateral sides of said border for connecting said border to a surface.
 4. The singing toy device according to claim 3 wherein said border is movable from said body to provide an opening between said pouch and said body for inserting items in said pouch.
 5. The singing toy device according to claim 1 wherein said body comprises a pocket for storing an audio box.
 6. The singing toy device according to claim 5 wherein said audio box comprises electronic circuitry.
 7. The singing toy device according to claim 6 wherein said electronic circuitry controls audio play and record functions.
 8. The singing toy device according to claim 1 wherein said fastener comprises a microhook ply on said body for receiving a microloop ply on said bottom of said pouch.
 9. The singing toy device according to claim 1 wherein said fastener comprises snaps including protruding members on said body and receiving members on said bottom.
 10. The singing toy device according to claim 1 wherein said body comprises a pliable clasp for hanging the device.
 11. The singing toy device according to claim 1 further comprising suction cups on a back of said body for attaching said body to a substrate behind the device.
 12. A singing toy device comprising: a body, said body comprising an upwardly extending limb, said upwardly extending limb comprising a pliable wire clasp for hanging the device; a pouch, said pouch attached to said body for storing items and comprising: a border, said border at a top of said pouch and movable from said body to provide an opening between said top and said body for inserting items in said pouch; an openable bottom, said bottom below said top; and an ear for releasing said fastener to separate said bottom from said body for removing items from said pouch; a fastener, said fastener for removably coupling said bottom of said pouch and said body; electrical circuitry, said electrical circuitry for storing a first recording; a microphone, said microphone electrically connected to said electrical circuitry, said microphone enabling the creation of a second recording in said electrical circuitry; and a speaker, said speaker electrically connected to said electrical circuitry to transmit at least one of said first and second recordings.
 13. The singing toy device according to claim 14 further including a first recording stored in said electrical circuitry.
 14. The singing toy device according to claim 14 wherein said bottom comprises a generally semicircular, flat front surface.
 15. A method of entertaining a child with a singing toy device having a body, a pouch attached to the body, a fastener removably coupling a bottom of the pouch and the body, and suction cups connected to the body, the method comprising the steps of: hanging the singing toy device; pressing a suction cup to a surface; inserting items into a top of the pouch; and releasing the fastener to free items from the pouch.
 16. The method according to claim 15 further comprising closing a switch to activate audio play and record functions.
 17. The method according to claim 16 further comprising listening to an audio recording from the device.
 18. The method according to claim 17 further comprising speaking in response to audio play.
 19. The method according to claim 18 wherein the releasing step comprises pulling an ear on the bottom of the pouch.
 20. The method according to claim 19 wherein the inserting step is performed subsequent to the hanging step. 